1. The state constitution needs to provide clear direction to
its citizens, the legislature and the courts in the development,
implementation and interpretation of sound public policy. This
amendment eliminates obsolete language and updates the state
constitution by adding needed clarity, while retaining the
provision that all state debt must be approved by the electorate.

2. This amendment is needed to eliminate obsolete language
such as the two-million dollar debt limitation and references to
state capitol construction and other costs which were relevant in
the early 1900s but do not apply today. The amendment also
clarifies an exception for ordinary operating expenses, such as
pension fund liability, and clarifies that debts repaid within
the fiscal year are not counted as debt and therefore not
prohibited. The amendment also provides clarification through an
exception for debts or liabilities of independent public bodies
corporate and politic (such as the Idaho Housing Finance
Association or the Idaho Building Authority) which do not levy
taxes or obligate the general fund of the state. This will avoid
confusion and misinterpretation of this constitutional provision
and allow for better functioning of state government with no
additional liability to the taxpayer.

3. In the past, the Idaho Supreme Court has had to rule on
some of these questions because the constitutional language was
not clear. This amendment will eliminate confusion and save
future taxpayer dollars for legal costs and expenses.

1. This amendment is not needed since the existing language
and the election provision of the state constitution already
limit additional debt without a vote of the people. Case law has
decided that ordinary expenses and debts repaid within the fiscal
year are not violations of the state constitution. Further there
have been case law decisions stating that debt incurred by
independent public bodies corporate and politic does not violate
the state constitution.

2. Theoretically, this amendment would allow the state to
incur unlimited amounts of debt without the financial ability to
repay it, subject to a simple majority vote at a general election
on each measure giving rise to new debt. Debt could be incurred
through the initiative process without the means of repayment.

3. The state constitution is a historical document. It should
not be changed to address problems that do not exist. Case law
adequately covers any problem that has been advanced by the
advocates of the proposal.